Design of excellence

ICONIC DESIGN | Nina Valeri

Bringing art and design to unique locations and authentic wonders, in a dialogue between creative expressions and an exclusive context: this is the success of NOMAD, which was inaugurated last April in Karl Lagerfeld’s former villa and will arrive at enchanting St. Moritz in 2018.

Pending the second French edition. Created by Giorgio Pace and Nicolas Bellavance- Lecompte, NOMAD is an intimate art and design event presented in extraordinary architectural locations, to narrate and explore creativity with an unprecedented look.

And it is with this vision that the exhibition was born – one that is dedicated to collectors, artists, architects, and interior designers – last April opening its doors in a unique place. Immersed in the Cote d’Azur’s enchanting views, in Karl Lagerfeld’s first residence in the French Riviera, La Vigie in Montecarlo is an authentic architectural masterpiece.

On a sophisticated stage overlooking the sea, thirteen of the most important international galleries created an enchanting mise en scene in the villa’s luxurious rooms: from Louis Alexander Gallery in Nilufar (Milan) and Carwan Gallery (Beirut) to David Gill (London), Etage Projects (Copenhagen), Galerie BSL (Paris), and Seeds London, just to name a few.

It is a journey of genuine beauty created by leading voices in the luxury world: Giorgio Pace, a specialist in advertising, art, and luxury – his projects including events with Louis Vuitton, Rick Owens, Moët Hennessy, Garage Contemporary Art Museum, Visionaire – and Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte, architect, curator, and consultant for well-known international partners, as well as co-founder and artistic director of the Carwan Gallery in Beirut. Described as a “model for the future”, NOMAD has gathered more than 1,300 international guests in an unprecedented journey through works of art not only in the rooms but on balconies and panoramic terraces as well.

Works include the design talents of Nacho Carbonell, Martino Gamper, Lindsey Adelman, Zaha Hadid, Jennifer Guidi, and Arik Levy, as well as dialogues between architect Norman Foster and Deyan Sudjic, director of the design museum. There is also a seaside lounge designed by Rick Owens and Michèle Lamy.

And of course St. Moritz was chosen by the founders to be the second location where the new NOMAD winter edition will be inaugurated from February 8 to 11, 2018 in Chesa Planta, a spectacular Engadin palace from the 16th century.

Contemporary works will be exhibited alongside historical pieces. In addition to new participants – Demisch Danant (New York), Skarstedt (New York / London) and Almine Rech (Paris / Brussels / London / New York) – and galleries that inaugurated the first 2017 edition, there will also be events, pop-ups, open air activities, and a meeting with some of the biggest names in design, art, and architecture.

Then the second edition of NOMAD awaits – from 26 to 29 April 2018 – where for the second consecutive year Villa La Vigie will be transformed into a sophisticated and intimate design gallery.